Marketing, advertising & media intelligence

I first met Harry in the late '70s when he applied for a job at Survey Research (now called Research International). He was fresh out of university, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Despite his unpronounceable name, there was something about him that I liked and he was hired for his first job.

Sometime after that I went to Auckland to set up Survey Research’s Auckland office and then Colmar Brunton Research. Harry stayed in Wellington, got into advertising (Charles Haines) and then later into research again (AC Nielsen).

I was so pleased when Harry agreed to open Colmar Brunton’s Wellington office in 2003 and become a shareholder. He and his team built it into a substantial business, because his reputation and mana in Wellington were so strong, built on talent and integrity. He attracted great clients and staff alike. Then in 2009 Harry became chief executive of Colmar Brunton.

I really enjoyed working with Harry. He was inspirational. He had great ideas and saw possibilities where others didn’t. His penchant for the white-board, fancy-dress and great events are legendary. He blended some advertising showmanship with marketing research – the mix was very attractive and, in my view, advanced the reputation of marketing research.

More than that, he was a great person, kind, genuinely caring and compassionate and very well-liked and appreciated, not just in New Zealand, but beyond in the Millward Brown empire. He has touched so many lives, not just in health, but also when he walked through the valley of the shadow of death.

Harry passed away on February 19, 2012 peacefully and with family. His was a life well lived.

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Why we like it: In a slightly dystopic and animalistic car spot, Mitsubishi has promoted its new Triton Huntaway II. The video sees the utetravelling over rugged Wellington terrain and highlights the vehicles multiple features. The campaign is based on exclusivity as Mitsubishi’s new ute has just 20 up for grabs. To provide further hype to its audience, the ad finishes with the line, “if you don’t catch it now, you won’t see it for dust”.

Who’s it for:2degrees by DDB

Why we like it:2degrees continue to expose the unusual nature of everyday gestures in its latest spot that lingers over three couples shaking hands. In a world of sloppy, or overly stiff hand-shakes, it is good to see the act of peace and trade be scrutinised. Described as ‘pumping someone up and down as if they are low on air’ the spot films handshakes in slow motion and scrutinises the instinctive way in which we communicate. The spot is a part of 2degrees ‘Second Nature’ campaign, which releases multiple ads and gives focus to the contribution of 2degrees in helping Kiwi businesses up and down the country.

Who’s it for: TVNZ by TVNZ’s Blacksand

Why we like it: Last week, Deadpool hijacked TVNZ’s brand assets, gate crashed multiple TVNZ channel idents and appeared in a Broadcasting Standards spot for TVNZ. The character, played by famous American actor Ryan Reynolds, saw a one-off opportunity for TVNZ, who utilised the sarcastic superhero across multiple platforms and programmes. The ads coincided with the release of Deadpool 2, which is currently on screen in cinemas.